|
TRADEMARK TRAITS:
- Fearless
- Independent
- Pleasant
- Dignified
- Strong
|
 |
|
|
|
What They're Like To Live With:
SHIBA INUS ARE BOLD AND INDEPENDENT
DOGS WITH A
SENSITIVE SIDE. ALERT, ENERGETIC AND FULL OF LIFE,
SHIBAS FOLLOW THEIR INSTINCTS AND DO THEIR OWN
THING. BUT THEY FORM STRONG BONDS WITH THEIR
MASTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WANTING PLENTY OF
ATTENTION AND FACE-TIME
WITHOUT SEEMING NEEDY OR
DEPENDENT. THEY CAN BE A LITTLE STANDOFFISH WITH
STRANGERS, BUT HAVE A PLAYFUL OPENNESS
WITH
CHILDREN. SHIBAS HAVE LOADS OF ENERGY. TAKE THEM
ON HIKES OR JOGS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
THEY ARE
LIKELY TO STAY RIGHT AT YOUR SIDE. A LEASH
IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED UNTIL YOU FEEL CONFIDENT
IN THEIR OBEDIENCE.
SHIBA INUS ARE EASY TO HOUSEBREAK, NOT TO MENTION
PAINSTAKINGLY CLEAN. THEY OFTEN LICK THEIR PAWS TO
GROOM
THEMSELVES AND GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO AVOID
MUD PUDDLES AND DIRT. SHIBAS ARE ALSO FAIRLY QUIET,
NOT PRONE TO UNNECESSARY
BARKING. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN
KNOWN TO LET OUT A UNIQUE, HIGH PITCHED SCREAM WHEN
SOMETHING IS AWRY.
THINGS
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
BEING AN ACIENT BREED, SHIBA INUS
CAN BE SOMEWHAT
SET-IN-THEIR-WAYS. A STRONG-WILLED OWNER IS NEEDED
TO SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS. PROPERLY TRAINED AND
SOCIALIZED FROM AN EARLY AGE, SHIBA INUS WILL OBEY;
HOWEVER, THEY HAVE POWERFUL HUNTING INSTINCTS THAT
USUALLY
MAKE A LEASH NECESSARY IN PUBLIC.
A HEALTHY SHIBA INU CAN LIVE AS LONG AS 15 YEARS OR MORE.
OCCASIONAL HEALTH
ISSUES INCLUDE HIP DYSPLASIA AND
DISLOCATED KNEECAPS (common in many breeds). SHIBAS ARE
SEASONAL SHEDDERS AND
NEED ONLY OCCASIONAL BRUSHING.
TRY NOT TO BATHE THEM TOO OFTEN - SOAP CAN STRIP THE
NATURAL WATERPROOFING ON THEIR
COATS.
|
|
|
SHIBA INU HISTORY:
THE SHIBA INU IS AN ANCIENT ASIAN DOG BREED. THEY PROBABLY
DERIVED FROM A CHOW CHOW MIX BROUGHT TO JAPAN FROM
CHINA
SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS AGO. NO ONE IS EXACTLY SURE HOW THEY
GOT THEIR NAME. SOME SAY SHIBA INU MEANS "LITTLE
BRUSHWOOD
DOG", WHILE OTHERS SAY IT SIMPLY MEANS "LITTLE DOG". THE BREED
REACHED NEAR-EXTINCTION
LEVELS DURING WORLD WAR II. BUT,
AFTER THE WAR, SHIBA INUS FROM THE JAPANESE COUNTRYSIDE
HELPED RESTORE THE POPULATION.
TODAY, THEY RANK AS JAPAN'S
MOST POPULAR DOG, AND ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR
IN AMERICA.
|
|
|
THE LOOK OF THE SHIBA INU:
SHIBA
INUS HAVE COMPACT, MUSCULAR FRAMES COVERED IN SHORT,
DENSE COATS - LIKE A SIMILAR VERSION OF THE AKITA. THEY HAVE
BROAD HEADS WITH POINTED MUZZLES, DARK NOSES AND POINTED
EARS. THEIR DARK, TRIANGULAR EYES HAVE AN INTELLIGENT AND
OBSERVING GAZE. THEY HAVE THICK NECKS, WELL-DEVELOPED CHESTS
AND STRONG BACKS. THEIR TAILS CURL UP AND OVER THEIR BACK.
THEIR THICK COATS ARE USUALLY RED, BLACK/TAN, OR WHITE (CREAM).
"RED" IS THEIR DISTINCTIVE MARKING
AND CAN BE FOUND SOMEWHERE
IN ALL SHIBA INUS COAT.
|
|
